Patents by Inventor Brandon O. Williams

Brandon O. Williams has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11924491
    Abstract: The techniques herein provide for enhanced overlay network-based transport of traffic, such as IPsec traffic, e.g., to and from customer branch office locations, facilitated through the use of the Internet-based overlay routing infrastructure. This disclosure describes a method of providing integrity protection for traffic on the overlay network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Akamai Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Brandon O. Williams, Liza Alenchery, Yixin Jin
  • Patent number: 11818279
    Abstract: A method to generate a trusted certificate on an endpoint appliance located in an untrusted network, wherein client devices are configured to trust a first Certificate Authority (CA) that is administered by the untrusted network. In this approach, an overlay network is configured between the endpoint appliance and an origin server associated with the endpoint appliance. The overlay comprises an edge machine located proximate the endpoint appliance, and an associated key management service. A second CA is configured in association with the key management service to receive a second certificate signed by the first CA. A third CA is configured in association with the edge machine to receive a third certificate signed by the second CA. In response to a request from the appliance, a server certificate signed by the third CA is dynamically generated and provided to the appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Akamai Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Brandon O. Williams, Andres Guedez
  • Patent number: 11716368
    Abstract: A method of multicasting real-time video is described. The method begins by establishing a multicast network of machines capable of ingress, forwarding and broadcasting traffic, together with a mapping infrastructure. The multicast network preferably comprises a portion of an overlay network, such as a content delivery network (CDN). A video stream is published to the multicast network by (a) using the mapping infrastructure to find an ingress node in the multicast network, and then receiving the video stream from a publisher at the ingress node. One or more subscribers then subscribe to the video stream. In particular, and for subscriber, this subscription is carried out by (a) using the mapping infrastructure to find an egress node for the requesting client, and then delivering the video stream to the subscriber from the egress node. Preferably, the publisher and each subscriber use WebRTC to publish or consume the video stream, and video stream is consumed in a videoconference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Akamai Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles E. Gero, Martin Lohner, Abhijit C. Mehta, Brandon O. Williams
  • Patent number: 11552997
    Abstract: A client application manages a resolver configuration and sends DNS requests to a threat protection service when a mobile device operating the client application is operating off-network. The client application detects network conditions and automatically configures an appropriate system-wide DNS resolution setting. DNS requests from the client identify the customer and the device to threat protection (TP) service resolvers without introducing a publicly-visible customer or device identifier. The TP system applies the correct policy to DNS requests coming from off-network clients. In particular, the TP resolver recognizes the customer for requests coming from such clients and applies the customer's policy. The resolver is also configured to log the customer and the device associated with requests from the TP off-net client. Request logs from the TP resolver are provided to a cloud security intelligence platform for threat intelligence analytics and customer visible reporting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Akamai Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Brandon O. Williams
  • Publication number: 20220393886
    Abstract: A method to generate a trusted certificate on an endpoint appliance located in an untrusted network, wherein client devices are configured to trust a first Certificate Authority (CA) that is administered by the untrusted network. In this approach, an overlay network is configured between the endpoint appliance and an origin server associated with the endpoint appliance. The overlay comprises an edge machine located proximate the endpoint appliance, and an associated key management service. A second CA is configured in association with the key management service to receive a second certificate signed by the first CA. A third CA is configured in association with the edge machine to receive a third certificate signed by the second CA. In response to a request from the appliance, a server certificate signed by the third CA is dynamically generated and provided to the appliance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2022
    Publication date: December 8, 2022
    Applicant: Akamai Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Brandon O. Williams, Andres Guedez
  • Publication number: 20220385639
    Abstract: A mechanism to facilitate a private network (VPN)-as-a-service, preferably within the context of an overlay IP routing mechanism implemented within an overlay network. A network-as-a-service customer operates endpoints that are desired to be connected to one another securely and privately using the overlay IP (OIP) routing mechanism. The overlay provides delivery of packets end-to-end between overlay network appliances positioned at the endpoints. During such delivery, the appliances are configured such that the data portion of each packet has a distinct encryption context from the encryption context of the TCP/IP portion of the packet. By establishing and maintaining these distinct encryption contexts, the overlay network can decrypt and access the TCP/IP flow. This enables the overlay network provider to apply one or more TCP optimizations. At the same time, the separate encryption contexts ensure the data portion of each packet is never available in the clear at any point during transport.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2022
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Inventors: Brandon O. Williams, Martin K. Lohner, Kevin Harmon, Jeffrey Bower
  • Patent number: 11418352
    Abstract: A method to generate a trusted certificate on an endpoint appliance located in an untrusted network, wherein client devices are configured to trust a first Certificate Authority (CA) that is administered by the untrusted network. In this approach, an overlay network is configured between the endpoint appliance and an origin server associated with the endpoint appliance. The overlay comprises an edge machine located proximate the endpoint appliance, and an associated key management service. A second CA is configured in association with the key management service to receive a second certificate signed by the first CA. A third CA is configured in association with the edge machine to receive a third certificate signed by the second CA. In response to a request from the appliance, a server certificate signed by the third CA is dynamically generated and provided to the appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Akamai Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Brandon O. Williams, Andres Guedez
  • Patent number: 11411996
    Abstract: A mechanism to facilitate a private network (VPN)-as-a-service, preferably within the context of an overlay IP routing mechanism implemented within an overlay network. A network-as-a-service customer operates endpoints that are desired to be connected to one another securely and privately using the overlay IP (OIP) routing mechanism. The overlay provides delivery of packets end-to-end between overlay network appliances positioned at the endpoints. During such delivery, the appliances are configured such that the data portion of each packet has a distinct encryption context from the encryption context of the TCP/IP portion of the packet. By establishing and maintaining these distinct encryption contexts, the overlay network can decrypt and access the TCP/IP flow. This enables the overlay network provider to apply one or more TCP optimizations. At the same time, the separate encryption contexts ensure the data portion of each packet is never available in the clear at any point during transport.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Akamai Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Brandon O. Williams, Martin K. Lohner, Kevin Harmon, Jeffrey Bower
  • Publication number: 20220224960
    Abstract: The techniques herein provide for enhanced overlay network-based transport of traffic, such as IPsec traffic, e.g., to and from customer branch office locations, facilitated through the use of the Internet-based overlay routing infrastructure. This disclosure describes a method of providing integrity protection for traffic on the overlay network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2022
    Publication date: July 14, 2022
    Inventors: Brandon O. Williams, Liza Alenchery, Yixin Jin
  • Patent number: 11290765
    Abstract: The techniques herein provide for enhanced overlay network-based transport of traffic, such as IPsec traffic, e.g., to and from customer branch office locations, facilitated through the use of the Internet-based overlay routing infrastructure. This disclosure describes a method of providing integrity protection for traffic on the overlay network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Akamai Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Brandon O. Williams, Liza Alenchery, Yixin Jin
  • Publication number: 20210352017
    Abstract: A mechanism to facilitate a private network (VPN)-as-a-service, preferably within the context of an overlay IP routing mechanism implemented within an overlay network. The overlay provides delivery of packets end-to-end between overlay network appliances positioned at the endpoints. During such delivery, the appliances are configured such that the data portion of each packet has a distinct encryption context from the encryption context of the TCP/IP portion of the packet. By establishing and maintaining these distinct encryption contexts, the overlay network can decrypt and access the TCP/IP flow. This enables the overlay network provider to apply one or more TCP optimizations. At the same time, the separate encryption contexts ensure the data portion of each packet is never available in the clear at any point during transport. According to another feature, data flows within the overlay directed to a particular edge region may be load-balanced while still preserving IPsec replay protection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2021
    Publication date: November 11, 2021
    Inventors: Brandon O. Williams, Martin K. Lohner, Gowtham Boddapati
  • Publication number: 20210288865
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to enhanced overlay network-based transport of traffic to and from customer branch office locations, facilitated through the use of the Internet-based overlay routing. A method of selecting an ingress edge region of the overlay network begins by mapping a service hostname to an IKEv2 destination of an outer IPsec tunnel associated with a first overlay network edge. An IKEv2 session is established from the first overlay network edge to the customer router. Upon tunnel establishment, a secondary lookup is performed to determine whether the first overlay network edge is an appropriate ingress region. Based on a response to the secondary lookup, a IKEv2 redirect is issued to a second overlay network edge. A new tunnel is then established from the second overlay network edge to the customer router. Thereafter, an additional lookup may also be performed to determine whether the second overlay network edge remains an appropriate ingress region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2021
    Publication date: September 16, 2021
    Inventors: Ryan Ruel, Fardad Farahmand, Brandon O. Williams
  • Patent number: 11082334
    Abstract: Techniques for enhanced overlay network-based transport of traffic, such as IPsec traffic, e.g., to and from customer branch office locations, are facilitated through the use of the Internet-based overlay routing infrastructure. This disclosure describes managing and enforcing quality-of-service (QoS) in an Internet-based overlay network shared by a set of content provider customer entities. For each entity having a customer branch, the customer branch is coupled to the Internet-based overlay routing network. A quality-of-service (QoS) policy is configured for the customer. Utilization of the Internet-based overlay network against the configured QoS policy is then monitored. The QoS is then enforced for the customer and at least one other customer, based in part on the QoS policies. Capacity is enforced for a customer entity according to the QoS policy at one of: a global level, a geographical region level, and at the customer branch level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: Akamai Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Vinodkumar Parasmal, Parthasarathy Narayanan, Maswood Ahmed Basheer Ahamed, Brandon O. Williams
  • Patent number: 11070473
    Abstract: A mechanism to facilitate a private network (VPN)-as-a-service, preferably within the context of an overlay IP routing mechanism implemented within an overlay network. The overlay provides delivery of packets end-to-end between overlay network appliances positioned at the endpoints. During such delivery, the appliances are configured such that the data portion of each packet has a distinct encryption context from the encryption context of the TCP/IP portion of the packet. By establishing and maintaining these distinct encryption contexts, the overlay network can decrypt and access the TCP/IP flow. This enables the overlay network provider to apply one or more TCP optimizations. At the same time, the separate encryption contexts ensure the data portion of each packet is never available in the clear at any point during transport. According to another feature, data flows within the overlay directed to a particular edge region may be load-balanced while still preserving IPsec replay protection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: Akamai Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Brandon O. Williams, Martin K. Lohner, Gowtham Boddapati
  • Publication number: 20210203705
    Abstract: A method of multicasting real-time video is described. The method begins by establishing a multicast network of machines capable of ingress, forwarding and broadcasting traffic, together with a mapping infrastructure. The multicast network preferably comprises a portion of an overlay network, such as a content delivery network (CDN). A video stream is published to the multicast network by (a) using the mapping infrastructure to find an ingress node in the multicast network, and then receiving the video stream from a publisher at the ingress node. One or more subscribers then subscribe to the video stream. In particular, and for subscriber, this subscription is carried out by (a) using the mapping infrastructure to find an egress node for the requesting client, and then delivering the video stream to the subscriber from the egress node. Preferably, the publisher and each subscriber use WebRTC to publish or consume the video stream, and video stream is consumed in a videoconference.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2021
    Publication date: July 1, 2021
    Applicant: Akamai Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles E. Gero, Martin Lohner, Abhijit C. Mehta, Brandon O. Williams
  • Patent number: 11025477
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to enhanced overlay network-based transport of traffic to and from customer branch office locations, facilitated through the use of the Internet-based overlay routing. A method of selecting an ingress edge region of the overlay network begins by mapping a service hostname to an IKEv2 destination of an outer IPsec tunnel associated with a first overlay network edge. An IKEv2 session is established from the first overlay network edge to the customer router. Upon tunnel establishment, a secondary lookup is performed to determine whether the first overlay network edge is an appropriate ingress region. Based on a response to the secondary lookup, a IKEv2 redirect is issued to a second overlay network edge. A new tunnel is then established from the second overlay network edge to the customer router. Thereafter, an additional lookup may also be performed to determine whether the second overlay network edge remains an appropriate ingress region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Akamai Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan Ruel, Fardad Farahmand, Brandon O. Williams
  • Patent number: 10951672
    Abstract: A method of multicasting real-time video is described. The method begins by establishing a multicast network of machines capable of ingress, forwarding and broadcasting traffic, together with a mapping infrastructure. The multicast network preferably comprises a portion of an overlay network, such as a content delivery network (CDN). A video stream is published to the multicast network by (a) using the mapping infrastructure to find an ingress node in the multicast network, and then receiving the video stream from a publisher at the ingress node. One or more subscribers then subscribe to the video stream. In particular, and for subscriber, this subscription is carried out by (a) using the mapping infrastructure to find an egress node for the requesting client, and then delivering the video stream to the subscriber from the egress node. Preferably, the publisher and each subscriber use WebRTC to publish or consume the video stream, and video stream is consumed in a videoconference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Akamai Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles E. Gero, Martin Lohner, Abhijit C. Mehta, Brandon O. Williams
  • Publication number: 20200228444
    Abstract: Techniques for enhanced overlay network-based transport of traffic, such as IPsec traffic, e.g., to and from customer branch office locations, are facilitated through the use of the Internet-based overlay routing infrastructure. This disclosure describes managing and enforcing quality-of-service (QoS) in an Internet-based overlay network shared by a set of content provider customer entities. For each entity having a customer branch, the customer branch is coupled to the Internet-based overlay routing network. A quality-of-service (QoS) policy is configured for the customer. Utilization of the Internet-based overlay network against the configured QoS policy is then monitored. The QoS is then enforced for the customer and at least one other customer, based in part on the QoS policies. Capacity is enforced for a customer entity according to the QoS policy at one of: a global level, a geographical region level, and at the customer branch level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2020
    Publication date: July 16, 2020
    Inventors: Vinodkumar Parasmal, Parthasarathy Narayanan, Maswood Ahmed Basheer Ahamed, Brandon O. Williams
  • Publication number: 20200153882
    Abstract: A method of multicasting real-time video is described. The method begins by establishing a multicast network of machines capable of ingress, forwarding and broadcasting traffic, together with a mapping infrastructure. The multicast network preferably comprises a portion of an overlay network, such as a content delivery network (CDN). A video stream is published to the multicast network by (a) using the mapping infrastructure to find an ingress node in the multicast network, and then receiving the video stream from a publisher at the ingress node. One or more subscribers then subscribe to the video stream. In particular, and for subscriber, this subscription is carried out by (a) using the mapping infrastructure to find an egress node for the requesting client, and then delivering the video stream to the subscriber from the egress node. Preferably, the publisher and each subscriber use WebRTC to publish or consume the video stream, and video stream is consumed in a videoconference.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2020
    Publication date: May 14, 2020
    Applicant: Akamai Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles E. Gero, Martin Lohner, Abhijit C. Mehta, Brandon O. Williams
  • Patent number: 10601703
    Abstract: The techniques herein provide for enhanced overlay network-based transport of traffic, such as IPsec traffic, e.g., to and from customer branch office locations, facilitated through the use of the Internet-based overlay routing infrastructure. This disclosure in particular describes a method of managing and enforcing quality-of-service (QoS) in an Internet-based overlay network shared by a set of content provider customer entities. For each entity having a customer branch, the customer branch is coupled to the Internet-based overlay routing network. A quality-of-service (QoS) policy is configured for the customer. According to the method, utilization of the Internet-based overlay network against the configured QoS policy is then monitored. The QoS is then enforced for the customer and at least one other customer, based in part on the QoS policies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Akamai Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Vinodkumar Parasmal, Parthasarathy Narayanan, Maswood Ahmed Basheer Ahamed, Brandon O. Williams